Sorry Bob is NOT the sane one
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — What About Bob?
ManFromSanFernando — 10 years ago(May 15, 2015 03:34 AM)
has anyone here suffered an anxiety or panic attack? I have and it's not fun. Bob is someone that cannot leave the house due to anxiety among the number of other strange issues he has when out and about. He also has a number of other issues, most notably he lacks almost all compassion and empathy and cannot read basic emotions in his dealings with Leohe totally cannot tell that Leo is upset and may want him to leave despite the fact that he on the surface is playing nicethis may be mild sociopathy or simply a total lack of manners, when you are visiting someone even for an "emergency" you should be conscious of their emotional state and the impact your presence is having, basic empathy period.
Leo on the other hand clearly is not a perfect person. He is vain, arrogant, and egotistical. However he is able to function in the realy world. He may not be the best person but he clearly is well from a mental health perspective. However he is clearly teetering on the edge of having problems, whihc is probably why he took a vacation. Then to have this incredibly annoying patient won't leave him alone so he can never relax during his vacation in addition to having an uncanny knack at upstage him and winning over his family, all while his family somehow isn't able to figure out how annoying all of this would be. Clearly for someone on the edge, this is enough to make them want to punch a wall repeatedly,
That said, I think the film was written as a revenge fantasy against a shrink, from that perspective I think the film is brilliant and love it ; ) -
siukong — 10 years ago(June 11, 2015 10:36 AM)
I agree. What some people don't seem to understand is that while all of us can and do have symptoms of various mental illnesses, in most cases what ultimately determines how one is diagnosed is how seriously one's daily life is affected.
I can't agree that this film was brilliant though. All it left me feeling was mildly annoyed. -
Geeky Randy — 10 years ago(August 30, 2015 03:09 PM)
However he is able to function in the realy world.
Yes, resorting to attempted murder when someone bugs him. He fits right in.
The problem with people who attempt to overanalyze the film's premise are missing the concept of what makes this a great comedy and Bob a likable character he is well-meaning in all his unacceptable actions, and the fact that the doctor can't take it at face-value (but everyone else can) turns him into the psycho.
You're not wrong with your observations, you're wrong in assuming that they're flaws in the story. This was the intention, and it's what makes it funny.
Book:
http://geeksteronmovies.blogspot.com/p/the-geekster-guide.html
Votes: 3,510 -
RobbieCalifornia — 10 years ago(November 26, 2015 01:57 PM)
I suffered from panic attacks for many years, and it's horrible. (Thank God for Xanax.). Baby Steps is a good way to describe how one can gradually learn to get free of this affliction.
I just read Robin Williams was first choice for the role of Bob. All due respect to Williams, Bill Murray was perfect for the part. -
Druff — 10 years ago(February 09, 2016 10:28 AM)
Yes, resorting to attempted murder when someone bugs him. He fits right in.
That's after Bob has literally driven him nuts. That was kind of the entire point of the story- A severe neurotic drives his psychotherapist crazy, and in doing so is cured.